Thunder Lake
Estes Park, CO
4.9 (22 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Waterfalls & Mountain Lakes
- Stunning Alpine Hiking
- Camp near Thunder Lake
- Mountain Solitude
- Gain Elevation of 12,000+ Feet
- Breathtaking Mountain Views
- Abundant Wildlife Habitat
Description
Thunder Lake sits at the top of Wild Basin, one of the most stunning and lesser-visited cirques in Rocky Mountain National Park. This backpacking trip takes us to the shores of Thunder Lake, and then far beyond it into some remote and truly magnificent high country. With a basecamp near Thunder Lake, we venture high into the alpine peaks, hanging valleys, hidden cirques of the Continental Divide for an unforgettable 4-day adventure!
We’ll set up camp in a forest above Thunder Lake surrounded by giant peaks like Tanima Peak (12,420 ft), Chief’s Head (13,579 ft) and Mount Alice (13,310 ft). On day hiking excursions, we’ll climb into the high country above Thunder Lake, which features several beautiful waterfalls as well as signature hiking on classic Rocky Mountain ridges and peaks. The combination of waterfalls, alpine lakes and stunning scenery make these truly unforgettable days in the high country! Come experience an unforgettable Colorado backpacking adventure!
$1005 Per Person
$1195 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult
- Backpack Weight:
- 25-35 pounds
- Daily Hiking Distances:
- 5-7 miles
- Most Elevation Loss:
- 2250 feet
- Most Elevation Gain:
- 2250 feet
- Quality of Trails:
- Well maintained and off trail
- Additional:
- This trip goes up to approximately 12,000 feet in elevation. It’s best to arrive in Estes Park a day or two early to acclimatize. We will also be hiking off trail at times on variable terrain including meadows, forests and talus.
Participants should:
- be active and healthy
- exercise several times per week
- be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles per day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 25-pound backpack
SOLITUDE LEVEL 3
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Colorado backpacking trip a solitude 3. You can expect hours of solitude at a time.
Learn More about our Rating SystemTRAVEL TO ESTES PARK
All Rocky Mountain National Park trips begin and end from Estes Park, Colorado. Estes Park does not have an airport. The most convenient airport is Denver International Airport (DIA), which is served by most major airlines and is an inexpensive airport to fly into. From DIA one can take a shuttle or rent a car to reach Estes Park. It is a 1.5-hour drive from DIA to Estes Park on good roads.
Denver to Estes Park Shuttles
Estes Park Shuttle: 970-586-5151
SuperShuttle: 970-482-0505
Private Trips
Traveling in perfect company is a wonderful thing! With our private trip offerings you can book a trip exclusively for your group. Whether it’s with family, friends or colleagues, private trips are a fun and enriching way to explore the outdoors.
Private trip pricing is based on a sliding scale, depending on the number of people in your party. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax and national park fees (where applicable) or guide gratuity. Give us a call at 800-715-HIKE to get the ball rolling!
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2
- 3 People: Rate x 1.3
- 4 People: Rate x 1.1
- 5+ People: Rate x 1
*all rates are per person
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private Trips- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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